Tag Archives: pittsburgh steelers

College Football HoF, NFL

Everett, Thomas

Card: Score Supplemental 1989
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1992

Thomas Everett signed with the Cowboys in the final years of Plan B from the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1992. A graduate from Baylor University in Waco, Thomas Everett was the winner of the Jim Thorpe Trophy in 1986, at a day and age where Baylor was known in college for its amazing defensive pedigree and not as a college doormat. A consistent and dependable safety, in 5 years with the Steelers Thomas would make 16 interceptions and 315 tackles before heading over to the Cowboys where he started at strong safety, playing alongside and mentoring young Darren Woodson. Everett would provide stability at the position, helping the Cowboys earn a SuperBowl appearance after the 1992 season and again in 1993 when he shifted to free safety for the season. After the conclusion of the 1993 season in which he only started 9 games, Everett would sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he played well through 1995, starting 25 games and retired where he has now gone into coaching in the Dallas area.

G/Gs 128/117    Tac 565   Sac 1   Fum  4   Int 21  Yds 255   Avg 12.1    Td 0   Lg 32

NFL

Dafney, Bernard “Big Daf” (1968-2006)

Card: StarPics 1992
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1992

Bernard “Big Daf” Dafney was a popular player at the University of Tennesee- scoring a touchdown on a trick play (‘fumblerooskie’) against Mississippi State where he gallopped for 32 yards. A verified man-mountain who had the physical size to translate to the next level (6’5″, 325), Dafney played in the Senior Bowl in 1992 before being drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round. The Houston Oilers had an imposing and established offensive line and while Bernard played well in training camp, he wasn’t able to crack the lineup and was cut after training camp. He’d be signed by the Vikings, and remained with the team from 1992 through the 1994 season before continuing his journeyman career playing for the Cardinals, Steelers and Ravens and Panthers, before retiring in 1997. Bernard would take what he learned and apply it to coaching starting at the high school level, where he had a passion for teaching and learning seeing some time with two local campuses- before he was sadly struck down by a heart attack in 2006.

NFL

Harrison, Nolan

Card: GameDay 1992
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1993

Indiana University is not really known as a hotbed of football talent- but the Raiders took a chance on Nolan Harrison in the 6th round of the 1991 draft as a possible replacement for star defensive end Howie Long or Greg Townsend. In the meantime the Raiders would utilize him also at defensive tackle, until 1994 when he’d get a career high 5 sacks at left defensive end. Nolan would sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997, and play there through 1999 making 7.5 sacks and then close out his career with the Washington Redskins in 2000. As a player, Nolan’s strength would be his high motor and flexibility along the defensive line providing invaluable depth for 10 seasons.

Since retiring Harrison has remained extremely active in NFLPA activities, serving on a variety of boards, financial management, and being a motivational speaker. In 2010, Nolan was named Senior Director of Former Player Affairs and he and former Raider Dave Pear have also squared off on disability and retirement benefits over the last few months.

On top of the possible 2011 NFL strike, there’s actually another party involved in the labor dispute that must not be ignored- those retired players that paved the way for the rest of the league’s success. Many former players who did not live on the ballooned million dollar contracts and on a pittance of severance sacrificed their bodies for our entertainment and now their pain and problems are largely ignored by the league. While Nolan has made some contact with Dave Pear- it remains to be seen whether or not our former greats are treated with the respect they deserve.  You can follow Nolan on twitter at: http://twitter.com/NolanHarrison74.

G/Gs  128/83      Tac 199      Sac 22.0     Fum 5      Int 0     Yds 0     Avg  -.-      Td 0      Lg 0